An unmanned aircraft powered by a ground-based laser was demonstrated at Osaka Dome on March 7. The aircraft is the work of a Kinki University research team led by Professor Nobuki Kawashima (aeronautical engineering). The researchers expect the aircraft to be used for gathering information in the event of a disaster.
The aircraft measures 78 cm (30 in.) long, weighs 800 grams (1.8 lbs.), and has wings like a kite. A disc-shaped solar panel attached underneath powers the propeller when struck by a ground-based laser.
A battery powered the aircraft?s propeller at takeoff, but once it reached an altitude of about 50 meters (165 feet) -- near the ceiling of the dome -- the aircraft switched to laser-powered flight. The laser remained on target (error less than 1 cm) throughout the 20-minute flight around the dome. Observers say the aircraft looked like a kite flying on a string of light.
Flight time with this technology is unlimited as long as the laser can reach the aircraft, as opposed to a 5-minute flight time when powered by battery. Researchers envision this type of aircraft being used to get an understanding of areas devastated by earthquake or flood, or to serve as flying communication relay stations. Leisure-related applications are also possible.
"We would like to extend the tracking distance and increase the size of the aircraft," says Kawashima. "Hopefully we can make it commercially available in about 2 or 3 years."
[Source: Asahi Shimbun]
Doug McLaren
Of course, electric R/C planes can already stay up for an hour or so -- the five minute figure is only because this plane has a small battery and an inefficient shape.
You'd also need some expensive infrastructure on the ground -- an expensive and power-heavy laser and tracking system, and the plane cannot leave the immediate area.
Personally, I'd say the most likely power source for this sort of thing in the near future is a fuel cell, and for now, if you need to stay up more than an hour, an IC engine of some sort is still what's needed.
[]Ziggy
Yeah,
This needs to be filed all right. How about under: Things-to-waste-research-funds-on-while-fooling-around-with-high- powered-lasers-in-a-pathetic-attempt-to-justify-your-silly-idea?
[]david
I'm sure someone is dreaming how to make a weapon out of this.
[]Thats the bad new, Good news Somebody is thinking about transmitted power. How few people have any Imagination. No I'm not going to spell it out for you.
Alan
A disc-shaped solar panel attached underneath powers the propeller when struck by a ground-based laser. Great idea can I get one for Xmas 07...
[]Fred
I found a great place to replace all kinds of batteries. Anything from laptops to camcorders, cordless phones etc. the site has a cool name for battery replacement
[]salaric
this wa done by NASA about 3 years prior:
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=12743
[]fringD
this could be more than a toy. if you had a network of lasers crisscrossing a city, or even a nation, then you could fly all over like this. forever. if the lasers were awesome enough, maybe we could have laser powered 747s.
[]shams
Absolutely fantastic mind blowing thing
[]